Bill received his Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management from West Texas State University in 1989 followed by his post-graduate work in Zoology.His areas of research are crisis management, zoological safety, and animal behavior, which draws upon his experience as a Zoologist, PADI Rescue Diver, TPWD Hunter Safety Instructor, NRA Firearms Instructor, Safe Capture graduate, and Red Cross CPR/First Aid Instructor.He is also a past member of Who's Who of Professional Management.

Bill has been active in the fields of wildlife management and zoology for many years, and has worked at numerous universities and zoological facilities in the Southwest.His experience includes positions as Lab and Museum Assistant, Shoot Team Leader, ERT Member, Large Mammal Keeper, Elephant and Marine Mammal Trainer, Senior Keeper, and Zoo Curator.He also operates Panthera Research, a consulting and research firm specializing in exotic felid husbandry, ethology, and training.

Currently, he serves on the AZA Antelope Taxon Advisory Group, the Sanctuary Standards of Care And Operations work group, the Maned Wolf SSP Management Committee, and is a Contributing Author to the AZA Jaguar SSP Husbandry Manual and Associate Editor for the AAZK book "Resources for Crisis Management".He has also been known on rare occasions to bark and purr at our cougars here at TCWR.

Bill is currently Curator of Hoofed Mammals and Tropical Birds at the Little Rock Zoo.

ABILENE, Texas , The City of Abilene and the Abilene Zoological Society are extremely pleased to announce that William "Bill" Baker, Junior will become Zoo Director at the Abilene Zoo, effective August 21.Baker comes from the Little Rock Zoo in Arkansas where he has served as Curator of Hoofed Mammals and Tropical Birds.

Director of Community Services Mike Hall said they had many promising candidates but Baker's "extensive experience working with the renovation and construction of new exhibits" made him a great fit for the Zoo's master plan.

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Hall added, "Baker should be able to move forward at a rapid pace to complete the projects that are already underway."

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Baker also has experience working with the same organizational structure as we currently have with the City of Abilene and the Zoological Society working together to operate the Zoo.

Baker graduated in 1989 from West Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management.His background includes serving as the zoo curator of the Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville, Texas; a large mammal keeper at the Houston Zoo as a hoof stock keeper-lead position; sea lion, seal and elephant trainer; research projects including zoo crisis management; and contributing writer/co-author for publications such as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Jaguar Species Survival Plan (SSP) Husbandry Manual, Resources for Crisis Management, Volume I and Resources for Crisis Management, Volume ll.

Baker will replace Jeff Bullock, who resigned to become an Assistant Zoo Director at the Greenville Zoo in South Carolina.